Barlinnie prisoners ‘without hot showers and heating’ amid ongoing water problems

Prisoners at HMP Barlinnie are allegedly continuing to experience problems with water, heating and access to showers, with one inmate’s family saying he has not had a hot shower for 11 days.

STV News understands water tankers were still being used to pump water into the Glasgow prison on Sunday evening, amid claims that pipes had not been fully repaired and the boiler system was not working.

Scottish Water told STV News the problem was not caused by a fault with its network and enquiries should be directed to the Scottish Prison Service.

The family of one prisoner told STV News their loved one had not had a hot shower for the last 11 days, since October 1, and his last shower, using cold water, had been on Wednesday last week.

They said “animals are treated better in the zoo”.

The family told STV News: “There are water tankers getting used to pump water into the prison at the moment, the pipes still haven’t been fixed and the boiler system is broken and there is no hot water inside the prison and prisoners in certain halls are not having hot showers and there is no heating on inside the prison.”

They also claimed the prison was “freezing” due to boiler problems and said no additional blankets had been provided to prisoners.

During a visit to the prison, they said conditions were so cold in the visitors’ hall that they could see their breath.

The woman also claimed prisoners were unable to contact Independent Prison Monitors because access had been blocked.

They also alleged an area of the prison estate known as “the Shed” and the prison gym do have hot running showers because they are electric and are not supplied by the boiler, however, prisoners are being denied access to those showers.

Prisoners are also unable to use the gym because they cannot shower afterwards.

The woman went on to further say their family member was developing red patches of skin due to being unable to wash daily.

STV News has approached the Scottish Prison Service for an updated response, but on Sunday a Scottish Prison Service spokesperson said: “The water supply issues in HMP Barlinnie have now been resolved.

“Staff have worked tirelessly throughout the weekend and we are grateful to them and to those in our care for their understanding.”